Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67000 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 335(@200wpm)___ 268(@250wpm)___ 223(@300wpm)
“I have a cousin,” I answered. “On my mom’s side. He loves that land more than even I do. So I imagine he’ll get it. I’ll keep a fifty-fifty share of it, of course, because my parents wouldn’t allow all that land to go to anyone but their direct descendants, but if they do what I suggested…”
“That’s awfully nice of you,” Garnett said. “Not many people would’ve been happy to just give away something that brings in that kind of cash flow.”
“Mamasauce!” Quinn pushed through the door. Hot on Quinn’s heels were Atlas and Gable. “Is the washer empty?”
I snorted as Garnett left to help Quinn with his laundry, leaving Quaid, Quincy, Auden, Atlas, and Ande all staring at me.
“Where’d you get all those snack cakes?” Atlas asked curiously.
“Here,” Garnett came into the room with a box of Star Crunch and a box of Oatmeal Cream Pies.
My eyes lit up with excitement.
“There’s a snack cake tax today,” Quinn grumbled. “You have to give one to her.”
Then he pointed at me accusingly.
I took a bite of Auden’s tax and waved.
“What for?” Atlas asked, sounding grumbly.
Garrett ripped open his box and tossed me one, then snatched the box from his brother’s arms and did the same to his.
“What the fuck?” Atlas snapped.
He was really in a bad mood.
I stood up and walked the snack cake back over to him, tucking it into his box. “You look like you need this more than I do.”
“We want her to like us, At Last,” Garrett said.
Atlas grumbled something under his breath before saying, “Stop calling me At Last.”
And, seeing that this man needed something that he wasn’t getting at the moment, I walked up to him and hugged him.
I was a freakin’ hugger.
It drove everyone nuts.
My mom. My dad. My grandma. The classmates I’d just met. The lady at the convenience store who gave me a free coffee on my birthday.
Anyone and everyone who showed me even a hint of kindness.
He held his hands out wide when I came in to hug him and stood stock still for a few long seconds before closing his arms around me, squeezing tighter than I ever expected him to. Almost as if he was holding on to me like a lifeline.
“Are you okay?” I asked him when he finally let me go.
He shrugged. “Really bad call before I came here.”
He didn’t elaborate, and I didn’t ask him to.
When I stepped back farther, it was to turn and lock eyes with Quaid.
He was watching me like he’d never seen me before.
“What?” I mouthed at him.
He shook his head, his eyes going soft, then turned back to the conversation he was having with his brothers.
Heading into the kitchen at Germaine’s call, I took a seat at the table where I was directed and wound up sitting between Quaid and Quinn.
I had to squeeze my arms to my body to keep from knocking the Carter on either side of me.
“Don’t you just hate it?” Ande said upon noticing my predicament—i.e., not being able to widen my arms a scant inch from my body without getting in either brother’s way.
“You’re used to this?” I teased.
“I’m used to them being assholes and not thinking about anyone but themselves, yes,” she confirmed. “Plus, you got extra shafted because Quaid’s right-handed and Quinn is left-handed.”
I looked at the two brothers, then said, “Is this the punishment spot for taking all of the snack cakes?”
The table laughed, and then we started eating.
The men at my side did their best to keep their arms down, but the table wasn’t meant for twelve, which was what it was currently seating.
Ten had to be the max.
“We used to have a bigger table,” Garnett said softly. “Nine kids. Two adults. That meant we needed seating for eleven. But then when Addison passed away, I couldn’t stand looking at the spot that should be hers. So, I got the smaller table. And then everyone started showing up with extra people.”
I smiled at her. “It’s okay. I’ll deal with the punishment spot if it means I got all those snack cakes.”
I winked at her, causing her to smile.
The table took on a somber moment as everyone thought about a sister they no longer had.
I reached under the table and placed my hand on Quaid’s thigh.
He caught my hand up in his and ate with his left hand for a few long minutes before conversation picked back up.
At the end of the night, after the meal was finished, and we were heading out, I stopped at the edge of the car and smiled when I saw the oatmeal cream pie on the passenger door handle.
I tucked it into my arm with the rest of what I’d gathered, and waited while Quaid got the door for me like he always did.
It was only as we were driving home that he said, “Thank you.”